Bartow Captures First District Title

Friday

Bartow has been to the playoffs five times in its history but never as district champions - until now . And it wasn't easy.

BARTOW | Bartow has been to the playoffs five times in its history but never as district champions - until now .

And it wasn't easy.

The Yellow Jackets allowed the tying goal with less than a minute to play in regulation, but Chad Hopkins scored his second goal with less than five minutes to go in the second overtime to lift Bartow to a 3-2 victory Friday night in the Class 4A, District 9 tournament at Bartow Memorial Stadium.

"This is the greatest moment in my soccer career," Hopkins said.

Both teams advance to next Thursday's regional quarterfinals.

The winning goal was set up when Jonathan Morris, who assisted on Hopkins' first goal, sent a pass through the Kathleen defense. Hopkins broke in to collect the pass and beat on-rushing Kathleen goalkeeper Nick Walker.

"It was just instinct," Hopkins said. "At the very moment I kicked the ball, I knew it was in."

Said Bartow coach Matt Cooper: "His senior year, he couldn't have ended it any better. That was awesome."

The championship game was a tightly contested match between players who are teammates in club soccer. Bartow (18-4-2) jumped on top in the seventh minute. Hopkins sent a pass through to Jeff Teris, who scored.

It was a short-lived lead.

Less than four minutes later, the Red Devils (14-7-4) capitalized on a cornerkick when Javier Rodea scored from right in front of the goal.

It stayed that way for the rest of the half. Bartow's Joey Schley prevented a Kathleen goal when he broke up a run by Kathleen's Andrew Boudreau.

Bartow had a few strong scoring chances, including a header by London Cobb that went wide. Walker also robbed Teris of the go-ahead goal with a diving save.

Hopkins put Bartow back on top when he headed in a free kick by Morris with just under 25 minutes to play in the game. After the goal, Bartow became more defensive-minded. Felix Pastenes, Marco Santos and Rohan Adams put pressure on Bartow's defense, but the Yellow Jackets' defense held until the final minute.

With one last charge, Boudreau got off a strong shot for the tying goal past Bartow keeper Alex Erwin, who moment earlier made a diving stop to preserve the lead.

"There was no giving up," Kathleen coach Mike Locke said. "That's one thing I love about this team, they never give up. It doesn't make a difference."

Despite losing their grasp on their first district title, Bartow regrouped for overtime.

"We worked all season for this," Cooper said. "It's been a long hard year. We've battled through injuries. I sat them down and told them, 'Guys, I can't do anything more. You all have to win this. I can't win this for you.' "

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